CPT code 92250: Fundus photography, retinal photos with interpretation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Color or red-free photographs of the retina, optic disc, and posterior pole, reviewed with a written report, document and track posterior segment eye disease.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities3.5M Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $37.07 for 92250 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $33.45–$48.53.

Medicare rate · 92250

Fundus photography, retinal photos with interpretation

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.39
Total RVUs
1.11
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$37.07

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 92250 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 92250 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 92250 covers

Fundus photography uses a retinal camera, often after pupil dilation, to capture images of the optic nerve head, macula, retinal vessels, and visible peripheral retina. An ophthalmic photographer or technician acquires the images, and an ophthalmologist or optometrist interprets them and writes a report. It is performed mainly in eye clinics and ophthalmology offices to establish a baseline or monitor conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, choroidal nevi, retinal vascular occlusions, and glaucomatous optic disc changes.

Report one unit for a session whether one or both eyes are photographed. CMS prices 92250 as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. The record should identify the clinical reason, eyes imaged, and interpreted findings. Billing without a component modifier represents the global service; modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the camera, staff, and other technical work when components are billed separately. When 92250 is performed with other eligible ophthalmology diagnostic tests, the ophthalmology diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to its technical component.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 92250 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 payment localities

$33.45 to $48.53

$33.45$40.99$48.53
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

92250 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$33.86Unavailable
Alaska$44.81Unavailable
Arizona$36.25Unavailable
Arkansas$33.45Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$37.62Unavailable
Austin, TX$38.38Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$39.31Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$39.15Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$34.92Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$36.82Unavailable

92250 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$33.45

$44.81

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
92250 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$44.811
AL$33.861
AR$33.451
AZ$36.251
CA$39.23–$48.5329
CO$38.581
CT$39.281
DC$42.021
DE$36.791
FL$36.38–$39.063
GA$34.68–$37.622
GU$40.001
HI$40.001
IA$34.681
ID$34.851
IL$35.42–$38.314
IN$35.021
KS$34.501
KY$34.421
LA$34.36–$35.792
MA$38.39–$42.072
MD$37.43–$42.023
ME$34.95–$36.622
MI$35.13–$36.712
MN$37.281
MO$33.83–$35.953
MS$33.651
MT$37.071
NC$35.271
ND$36.681
NE$34.861
NH$37.951
NJ$39.81–$41.682
NM$35.271
NV$36.991
NY$35.71–$42.905
OH$35.051
OK$34.421
OR$36.78–$39.712
PA$35.12–$38.402
PR$37.321
RI$38.021
SC$35.201
SD$36.631
TN$34.641
TX$34.92–$38.388
UT$35.601
VA$36.48–$42.022
VI$37.321
VT$36.511
WA$38.32–$42.912
WI$35.631
WV$34.301
WY$36.901

How the 92250 rate is calculated

Each of 92250’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 92250

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.39

0.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.70

0.70 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.1100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$37.07

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 92250

The CMS indicators that decide how 92250 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 92250

Fundus photography, retinal photos with interpretation

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures7Diagnostic ophthalmology reduction applies to the technical component.
Bilateral (modifier 50)2Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

92250 without 26 · national office

$37.07

Fundus photography, retinal photos with interpretation

92250-26 · Professional component

$20.37

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

92250 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 92250

    Fundus photography, retinal photos with interpretation0.39 wRVU

    $37.07

  • 92228

    Retinal imaging, physician or QHP interpretation0.31 wRVU

    $30.39−$6.68

  • 92201

    Extended ophthalmoscopy, retinal drawing0.39 wRVU

    $25.05−$12.02

  • 92235

    Fluorescein angiography, multiframe retinal imaging0.73 wRVU

    $162.33+$125.26

  • 92285

    External eye photography, external structures0.05 wRVU

    $23.71−$13.36

How to choose

92228Retinal imagingPhysician or QHP interpretation
92228 covers remote retinal imaging for disease detection or monitoring with physician or qualified professional review. Use 92250 for diagnostic fundus photographs with interpretation and report; do not report both for the same images.
92201Extended ophthalmoscopyRetinal drawing
92201 is an extended retinal examination documented with a detailed drawing; 92250 documents the fundus with photographs. If both are performed, each needs separate clinical support and documentation.
92235Fluorescein angiographyMultiframe retinal imaging
92235 uses fluorescein dye and sequential angiographic images to assess retinal circulation and leakage; 92250 captures non-contrast color or red-free fundus photographs.
92285External eye photographyExternal structures
92285 photographs external ocular structures such as the eyelids, conjunctiva, or cornea; 92250 images the internal fundus, including the optic disc, macula, vessels, and visible periphery.

92250 billing questions

Should fundus photography be billed once or twice when both eyes are photographed?

Once. The code is priced as bilateral, so a single unit covers one or both eyes, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.

Can fundus photography and extended ophthalmoscopy be billed on the same date?

Same-day billing requires separately performed, medically necessary services supported by their own documentation. Fundus photographs alone do not establish the extended examination and detailed drawing required for 92201 or 92202.

When is 92250 used instead of retinal imaging codes 92227–92229?

Use 92250 for diagnostic fundus photographs with a clinical interpretation and report. Codes 92227 and 92228 describe remote retinal imaging with different reviewers; 92229 describes point-of-care imaging with automated analysis. Select the code that matches the service performed rather than reporting both for the same images.

How is the service split between an imaging site and the reading clinician?

The entity furnishing the camera and staff reports the technical service with modifier TC; the clinician who interprets the images and reports findings uses modifier 26. An entity furnishing both components reports the global service without either modifier.

Does a multiple procedure reduction affect fundus photography?

When 92250 is performed with other tests subject to the ophthalmology diagnostic multiple procedure reduction, CMS applies the reduction to the technical component.

What documentation supports the interpretation portion?

A signed interpretation should identify the indication and eyes imaged and describe relevant findings, such as hemorrhages, drusen, or optic disc cupping. Note image quality or comparisons with prior photographs when they affect interpretation.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 92250PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,722 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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